“Check the scanner on your side, see if there’s any sign of the Ulep,” Driok tells me.
“You think they’d go to Xracak City?”
“Yes, given it has plenty of power sources they could use. So, as much as it pains me, given the baron is down there, we have to stop them.”
The scanner has a myriad of dots swirling around all over the place, but it’s obvious we’re in the center. I watch it for a while until a bright white dot starts across the screen at some speed. There’s lettering above the dot, but I can’t read it.
“I think they’re inbound,” I say to Driok, pointing to the scanner.
He leans over and checks.
“That’s the Ulep,” he growls, pulling us into a higher orbit above the city. “And as soon as this is over, you’re getting a nano upgrade.”
“Can I give birth first?” I respond. “I’ve enough inside me to contend with as it is.”
Driok releases a low groan as I pat my belly.
“Mate, you will be the very destruction of my pants,” he says. “Now hold on. This is going to be…interesting.”
Interesting in conjunction with flying a spacecraft is probably not a word I’d like to use, but as Driok lifts the front of the ship and we engage the burst engines, he tells his warriors to engage the starnet.
“Are we that close to the edge of this galaxy?” I ask Driok over the whining of the engines.
“We’re not going to the edge of the galaxy,” Driok replies with the baddest of grins. “This is my plan. We’re going to make the Ulep think we have, then we’re going to activate the starnet.”
His comm fires into life with the worst sound I’ve ever heard. He thumps on a variety of panels to reduce the noise.
“What the…”
“Ulep,” Driok growls. “It’s a warning.”
“Warning for what?”
“To give myself up or be incinerated.” He increases our speed. “I’d like to see them try.”
DRIOK
The flyer is at top speed, but the Ulep are still gaining on us.
“You see the three moons and the nebula up ahead?” I point out the various points on the viewscreen to Maggie.
“Yes.”
“One of those moons is hollow, and we’re going inside it, but not before we use your remote for the last time.”
“The last time?”
“It’s a one-way mission, spitfire.” I slide my thumb and forefinger over her chin briefly. “I hope you said your goodbyes.”
Maggie huffs a laugh, but her face is strained. I know bringing her with me was a distinct choice, but where else could she be? Until the Ulep are expunged, nowhere is safe, even a place as lawless as Xracak City.
And we need to be able to find the wormholes once more. Even if we can’t get one to take us back to our galaxy, being able to get out of this one will make a huge difference to all the inhabitants, including the Sarkarnii.
“So, what do you want me to do?” Maggie picks up the headset which swings at her feet.
“When I tell you, send the remote out and set it on course epsilon-alpha-five.”
“Epsilon-alpha-five,” Maggie repeats. “Then what?”
